Colour the Eastern Townships with wildlife colouring book

Walking along a trail by the Tomifobia River in the Eastern Townships, local artist and art teacher Debbie Mosher Roy has more than exercise on her mind,she wants to see some animals.

"I hope we see a moose or deer," said Mosher Roy, holding her camera in her hands, ready to snap away.

"There is just so much beauty here."

Mosher Roy walks along wooded trails several times a week to get pictures of Eastern Townships wildlife for her latest project, an adult colouring book featuring moose, bears, deer and turtles from her very own backyard.

"I grew up here and people just don't see what we have," said Mosher Roy.

"I want people to see what is around them."

Bringing art and nature together

Mosher Roy says she had two passions since she was a little girl: art and nature. Growing up on a cattle farm,sheenjoyed being outside and always had a crayon in her hand.

"Sometimes I like to bringing my painting stuff out and just paint out on the trail," Mosher Roy said.

She saw an opportunity when she noticed her adult daughters colouring while watching television.

"They said'it's the new thing,mom. Adult colouring, it's supposed to be relaxing,' and I was like 'really?'"said Mosher Roy. "I've known that for years,"

She saw colouring books everywhere, but says she didn't like seeing mostlymandalas and shapes.

"That's when I decided to do a colouring book."

A love letter to home

All 40 pages of Colour Our Worldare hand-drawn sketches of photos of wildlife in the region. It was important for Mosher Roy to represent the variety of animals in the region.

"I knew I wanted a bear but I didn't have a picture of a bear. So Iasked other people if i could use their pictures," said Mosher Roy.

For her, this project is a love letter to a region she has called home her whole life.

"Growing up, this was my backyard. I ran on these trails and played in the river," said Mosher Roy. "I wanted the book to be by people from here, with animals from here."

A way to help andinspire others

The colouring book is more than a pet project for Mosher Royshe hopesto push othersto explore their creative side.

"The way I see it, my role is to inspire people. It's not about being as good as her or him," said Mosher Roy. "It's about going at your own pace and enjoying what you are doing."

To calm any non-artist jitters, every animal sketch has a more abstract and whimsical border.

The book was released in the spring and of the 500 initial copies, only 15 are left. While sales are going well for Mosher Roy, she said she prefers hearing about the ways the book has helped people.

"I know life can get dark and you can't always see the beauty," said Mosher Roy.

"People have sent me pictures of their work or told me stories about their moms or sons who feel better after colouring. That's the real thing for me."

More Eastern Townships news:

• 'Just try it': Quebec winemakers look to join big leagues
• The challenge of keeping animals off busy Eastern Township highway